Desk-chair combination unit



Feb. 6, 1962 H. B. BARBER 3,020,086

DESK-CHAIR COMBINATION UNIT Filed Feb. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Howard 13. Barbe/7 BY M /Wv Feb. 6, 1962 H. B. BARBER DESK-CHAIR COMBINATION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1960 United States atent 3,020,086 DESK CHAIR COMBINATION UNIT Howard B. Barber, Leesburg, Ind., assignor to Peabody Seating Company, Inc., North Manchester, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 8,608 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-170) This invention relates to a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs with one side of the unit being open for access and the other side being closed. The invention is particularly concerned with the understructure for rigidly interconnecting and supporting the desk and the chair.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a new and improved desk-chair combination unit of the type described, which is of light, strong and rugged construction, which will rest stably on the floor, is comfortable to sit in, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is attractive in appearance.

While the foregoing statement is indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and arrangement of the several parts which have been combined to form the desk-chair combination unit.

- A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein, but it will, of course, be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk-chair combination unit constructed inaccordance with the invention and looking slightly downwardly toward ,the front corner of the open side of the unit;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the unit looking toward the closed side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the unit;

FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the unit; 7

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tubular structural members which serve to rigidly interconnect and support the desk and chair; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the portionof the understructure supporting the seat of the chair.

The new desk-chair combination unit is provided with a generally rectangular horizontally disposed desk or study top, or other work surface member 11, a-seat panel 12, a generally rectangular, horizontally disposed,'understructure or bracket 13 to which the seat panel 12 is secured,

and an upright backrest panel 14. The back panel 14 is secured by rivets 16 to an upright, inverted generally ,U-shaped tubular member the lower ends of which are bent forwardly and secured to the rear of the understructure 13 in a manner to be fully described herein.

The desk top 11, seat panel 12, and back panel 14 are preferably made of multi-ply hardwood or Fiberglas.

The desk top 11 and the seat panel understructure 13 are rigidly interconnected and supported by a series of tubular structures 20, 2'1, 22 and 23 in a manner such that one side of the unit is open for access and the other side of the unit is closed. The tubular structures 20, 21, 22 and 23 are preferably formed of a strong but lightweight metal construction. The understructure 13, the tubular member 15, and the tubular structures 20, 21, 22 and 23 are connected together, preferably by welding, into a single rigid unit. The understructure 13, which is preferably hollow and of generally rectangular form, is composed of two complementary top and bottom cup- .shaped metal stampings 17, which stampings are identical in shape and size and are cupped together with their confronting edges rigidly interconnected, as by welding.

3,020,080 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 ice The understructure 13 is provided at its rear edge, inwardly from its side edges, with horizontal, rearwardly facing openings 18 in which the forwardly bent ends of the U-shaped tubular member 15 are secured, preferably by spot welding. The upper and lower faces of the under-' by fastenings 12a, preferably in the form of rivets, which.

pass downwardly through the seat panel 12 and the apextures in the lugs 19.

The substantially continuous tubular structure 20 is provided with a generally vertical section25which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk top 11 at the open side of the unit, a first horizontal section 26 which extends rearwardly beneath the desk top 11 from the upper end of the vertical section 25, a second horizontal section 27 which extendslaterally beneath the rear edge of the desk top 11 to the far side of the latter from the rear end of the first horizontal se'c'- tion 26, a connecting section 28 which extendsdownwardly from the far side of the second horizontal section 27 at the closed side of the unit, and athird horizontal section 29 which extends laterally beneath the front edge of the seat panel 12 from the lower end of the connecting section 28 in generally parallel relation to the second horizontal section 27'. An elongated'upwardly opening U-shaped bracket 30 is provided for attaching the first horizontal section 26 of the tubular structure 20 to the underside of the desk top 11 along the open side of the unit. The front edge of the seat-panel understructure 13 is provided with-a pair of laterally extending forwardly opening recesses 31 (FIGS. 2 and .6) in which recesses the third horizontal section 29 ofthe tubular structure 20 is received and rigidly secured, as

by welding.

The substantiallycontinuoustubular structure 21 (FIG. 5), which is generally an inverted U shapevin form, ..is

provided with a first generally vertical section 34 which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk top 11 at the closed side of the unit, a horizontal section 35 which extends rearwardly beneath the desk top 11 from the upper end ofthe generally vertical section. 34, a connecting section 36 which extends .downwardly and rearwardly from therear end of the horizontal section 35 in substantially the same vertical plane as the connecting section 28 of the tubular.'structure 20, and a second generally vertical section 37. which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner .of the' seat panel 12 at the closed side of the unit and extends dovmwardly from the lower end of the connecting section 36. An elongated upwardly opening U-shaped bracket 38 is provided for attaching the horizontal section 35 of the tubular structure 21 to the underside of the desk top 11 along the closed side of the unit. The tubular. structure 22 is disposed horizontally and has one end rigidly secured to the upper end of the second vertical section 37 of the tubular structure 21 with its opposite end ex-- tending laterally beneath the rear edge of the seat panel 12 and rigidly secured, as by welding, in an opening 39 formed in a rear corner of the seat-panel understructure 13 at the closed side of the unit.

The tubular structure 23 is disposed generally vertically and constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat panel 12 at the open side of .the unit. The upper end of the tubular structure 23 is bent to provide a horizontally disposed end portion 41 which extends laterally beneath the rear edge of the seat panel 13 toward the closed side of the unit in alignment with the tubular structure 22. The end of the horizontal portion 41 of the .tubular structure 23 is rigidly secured, asby welding, in an opening 42 provided in the rear corner of the seat-panel understructure 13 at the open side of the unit.

The tubular structure 20 is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the tubular structure 21 at a point it) (see FIGS. 4 and 5) adjacent the upper ends of the connecting sections 28 and 36, respectively, whereby to further rigidify the understructure interconnecting and supporting the desk top 11 and the seat panel 12 of the desk-chair combination unit.

I claim:

1. In a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs, and in which one side of the unit is open for access and the other side is closed, means for rigidly connecting and supporting said desk and chair, said means including a first substantially continuous tubular structure having a generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the open side of the unit, a horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, a second horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the desk to the far side of the latter from the rear end of said first horizontal section, a connecting section which extends downwardly from the far end of said second horizontal section, and a third horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the seat of the chair from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said first horizontal section of said tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for attaching the third horizontal section to the underside of the seat of the chair, a second continuous tubular structure providing supporting leg means for both the front corner of the desk and the rear corner of the chair at the closed side of the unit, and a third tubular structure providing supporting leg means for the rear corner of the chair at the open side of the unit.

2. In a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs, and in which one side of the unit is open for access and the other side is closed, means for rigidly connecting and supporting said desk and chair, said means including a first substantially continuous tubular structure having a generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the open side of the unit, a first horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, a second horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the desk to the far side of the latter from the rear end of said first horizontal section, a connecting section which extends downwardly from the far end of said second horizontal section, and a third horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the seat of the chair from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said first horizontal section of said first tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for attaching said first horizontal section to the underside of the seat of the chair, said connecting and supporting means also including a second substantially continuous tubular structure having a first generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the closed side of the unit, a horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, an inclined connecting section which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said horizontal section, and a second substantially vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the closed side of the unit and extends downwardly from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said horizontal section of said second tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means connecting the seat of the chair to said second substantially vertical section of said second tubular structure, and supporting leg means for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the open side of the unit.

3. In a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs, and in which one side of the unit is open for access and the other side is closed, means for rigidly connecting and supporting said desk and chair, said means including a first substantially continuous tubular structure having a generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the open side of the unit, a first horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, a second horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the desk to the far side of the latter from the rear end of said first horizontal section, a connecting section which extends downwardly from the far end of said second horizontal section, and a third horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the seat of the chair from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said first horizontal section of said first tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for attaching said third horizontal section to the underside of the seat of the chair, said connecting and supporting means also including a second substantially continuous tubular structure having a first generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the closed side of the unit, a horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, an inclined connecting section which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said horizontal section, and a second substantially vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the closed side of the unit and extends downwardly from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said horizontal section of said second tubular structure to the underside of the desk, a horizontal tubular member having one end secured to the upper end of said second vertical section of said second tubular structure and extending laterally beneath the seat of the chair toward the open side of the unit, a substantially vertical tubular member which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the open side of the unit and is connected at its upper end with the end of said horizontal tubular member, and means for attaching said horizontal and substantially vertical tubular members to the underside of the seat of the chair.

4. In a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs, and in which one side of the unit is open for access and the other side is closed, means for rigidly connecting and supporting said desk and chair, said means including a generally rectangular horizontally disposed bracket upon which the seat of the chair is supported, a first substantially continuous tubular structure having a generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the open side of the unit, a first horizontal section which extends rearward-ly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, a second horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the rear edge of the desk to the far side of the latter from the rear end of said first horizontal section, a connecting section which extends downwardly from the far end of said second horizontal section, and a third horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the front edge of the seat of the chair from the lower end of said connecting section in generally parallel relation to said second horizontal section, means for attaching said first horizontal section of said first tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for attaching said third horizontal section to the front edge of said bracket, said connecting and supporting means also including a second substantially continuous tubular structure having a first generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the closed side of the unit, a horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, an inclined connecting section which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said horizontal section, and a second substantially vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the closed side of the unit and extends downwardly from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said horizontal section of said second tubular structure to the underside of the desk, a horizontal tubular member having one end secured to the upper end of said second vertical section of said second tubular structure and extending laterally beneath the rear edge of the seat of the chair toward the open side of the unit, means for attaching the other end of said horizontal member to the rear corner of said bracket at the closed side of the unit, a substantially vertical tubular member which constitutes a sup porting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the open side of the unit, and means for attaching the upper end of said substantially vertical member to the rear corner of said bracket at the open side of said unit.

5. In a desk-chair combination unit of the four-leg type in which the desk is supported on two front legs and the chair on two rear legs, and in which one side of the unit is open for access and the other side is closed, means for rigidly connecting and supporting said desk and chair, said means including a first substantially continuous tubular structure having a generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front corner of the desk at the open side of the unit, a first horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, a second horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the desk to the far side of the latter from the rear end of said first horizontal section, a connecting section which extends downwardly from the far end of said second horizontal section, and a third horizontal section which extends laterally beneath the seat of the chair from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said first horizontal section of said first tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for attaching said third horizontal section to the underside of the seat of the chair, said connecting and supporting means also including a second substantially continuous tubular structure having a first generally vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the front. corner of the desk at the closed side of the unit, a horizontal section which extends rearwardly beneath the desk from the upper end of said vertical section, an inclined connecting section which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of said horizontal section, and a second substantially vertical section which constitutes a supporting leg for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the closed side of the unit and extends downwardly from the lower end of said connecting section, means for attaching said horizontal section of said second tubular structure to the underside of the desk, means for connecting the seat of the chair to said second substantially vertical section of said second tubular structure, said connecting section of said first tubular structure and said connecting section of said second tubular structure being disposed substantially in the same vertical plane, means for attaching said first tubular structure to said second tubular structure at a point adjacent the upper ends of said two connecting sections, and supporting leg means for the rear corner of the seat of the chair at the open side of the unit.

6. In an integral combination chair and work surface unit of the type wherein supporting legs are provided at the front edge of the work surface portion of the unit and at the rear edge of the chair portion of the unit and wherein one side of the unit is closed and the other side is open for access, a work surface member, a seat panel, an inverted generally U-shap'ed member at the closed side of the unit providing one of the front legs of the unit and the corresponding rear leg of the unit, means secur ing the uppermost portion of said member to the underside of said work surface member, means securing the adjacent rear corner of said seat panel to the rear leg portion of said member, a rear leg member secured to the other rear corner of said seat panel, an angularly bent member having one end portion disposed vertically and serving as the other front leg of said unit and the other end portion disposed horizontally and serving as supporting means for the front edge of said seat panel and integral intermediate portions extending between said one end portion and said other end portion, and separate means securing said one end portion to the underside of said work surface member and said other end portion to the front edge of said seat panel.

7. In an integral combination chair and work surface unit of the type wherein supporting legs are provided at the front edge of the work surface portion of the unit and at the rear edge of the chair portion of the unit and wherein one side of the unit is closed and the other side is open for access, a work surface member, a seat panel, an inverted generally U-shaped member at the closed side of the unit providing one of the front legs of the unit and the corresponding rear leg of the unit, means securing the uppermost portion of said member to the underside of said work surface member, means securing the adjacent rear corner of said seat panel to the rear leg portion of said member, a rear leg member secured to the other rear corner of said seat panel, an angularly bent member having one end portion disposed vertically and serving as the other front leg of said unit and the other end portion disposed horizontally and serving as supporting means for the front edge of said seat panel and integral intermediate portions extending rearwardly from the upper end of said leg portion, transversely along the underside of said work surface member, and downwardly to said seat-panel-supporting end portion, and separate means securing said one end portion to the underside of said work surface member and said other end portion to the front edge of said seat panel. 7

8. In an integral combination chair and work surface unit of the type wherein supporting legs are provided at the front edge of the work surface portion of the unit and at the rear edge of the chair portion of the unit and wherein one side of the unit is closed and the other side is open for access, a work surface member, a generally rectangular horizontally disposed bracket, a seat panel supported on said bracket, an inverted generally U-shaped member at the closed side of the unit providing one of the front legs of the unit and the corresponding rear leg of the unit, said member being characterized by a vertically disposed end portion serving as said one front leg, by a horizontally disposed rearwardly extending portion secured to the underside of the work surface member at one side edge thereof, and by a rearwardly and downwardly bent end portion serving as said one rear leg, a horizontally disposed member secured between said downwardly bent portion of said member and the adjajacent rear corner of said bracket, a rear leg member secured to the other rear corner of said bracket, and an elongated angularly bent member providing both the other front leg of the unit and supporting means for the front edge of said bracket, said angularly bent member being characterized by a vertically disposed end portion serving as said other front leg of said unit, by a horizontally disposed rearwardly extending portion secured to the underside of said Work surface member at the other side 7 edge thereof, by a horizontally disposed transversely extending portion underlying the rear edge of said work surface member, by a downwardly extending portion disposed gencrally in the vertical plane of said U-shaped member, and by a horizontally disposed transversely ex 3,020,086 7 8 tending end portion secured in supporting engagement 2,722,965 Chapman et a1 Nov. 8,1955 with the front edge of said bracket. 2,970,635 Fields Feb. 7, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES References Cited in the file of this patent G 1 H riggs School Seating Cata ogue56- received June UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 4, 1956, items 735, 786, 780, 789 on page 5.

D. 183,439 Williams Aug. 26, 1958 ng on 400 ine pamphlet, received in Ofiice Feb. D. 186,322 Carlson Oct, 13, 1959 2, 1957, 410 study desk item.

2,140,635 Konarski Dec. 20, 1938 y od Wakefield Standard Tapered Line; received 2,478,118 Mills Aug, 2, 1949 10 m. 20, 1953, items on pages 8 and 9. 2,570,301 Adsit Oct. 9, 1951 y d-Wakefield Trim-Line Catalogue; received 2,678,683 Bargen May 18, 1954 20, 1958, items on pages 16, 17 and 23.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,020,086 February 6 1962 Howard B Barber It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pai ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read a: corrected below.

Column 3 line 59 for "first" read third Signed and sealed this 26th day of June 1962,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L-LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

